Bagging eight spots on the Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2023 list, Hong Kong has once again cemented its position as the city where the crème de la crème of hospitality congregates. To gain an insider look into what goes on behind the scenes, we talked to the masterminds responsible for four hotspots that have seen nothing but full houses since opening earlier this year. Today, Lorenzo Antinori, founder of Bar Leone, tells us his best kept secrets.
Two things drive my love for this industry: warm hospitality and simple but well executed drinks. It’s always been my dream to serve these up in a space where people can feel at home, and this dream became a reality after two years of late nights and hard work with my wonderful business partners.
Bar Leone celebrates simplicity with attention to detail. Inspired by small watering holes dotted around Italian neighbourhoods, we wanted to create the same sense of community and conviviality here with a nostalgic Italian flair. We’ve filled the space with decorations and knick-knacks that nod to the ’70s and ’80s, with a playlist that also reflects the era I love – a passionate period that heavily influenced our pop culture.
At Leone, the drinking experience is intentionally simple. We take what I call a low-intervention approach to cocktails, leaning heavy on good-quality spirits, ice and fresh ingredients without the need of modern machinery. We want our guests to understand what we do at first glance without the glossary or dictionary that’s often printed on menus nowadays. Aside from freshly pressed juices, we don’t use other homemade ingredients. We want to distance ourselves from trends that focus on pushing the boundaries of innovation, and, instead, reel our focus back on to creating the best guest experience. This approach allows us to maintain a dynamic programme – we introduce new drinks every month, putting our spin on classic and modern classic serves. The aim is to play with flavours already understood and well loved. And, of course, our food menu brims with quintessential comfort dishes, freshly made and for sharing. Everything apart from baked pastries is made in house.
One drink everyone should try is our Leone Martini. It reflects our identity and our passion for good-quality spirits; instead of using vermouth, we combine a gin from Tuscany and Marsala wine from Sicily, finishing the drink with our signature smoked olive.
To champion our Italian edge, we boast an impressive amaro collection, always adding new bottles to our list from amazing producers around the world, even outside of Italy. We’ll roll out our For the Love of Amaro programme in the next few months, which will organise tasting sessions for customers to better understand the Italian herb liqueur. We’re also excited about a bespoke spirit we’re creating with an amazing Australian distillery; keep an eye out for it early next year.